The Sable Cloud eBook

“It is a marvellous thing to me,” said
she, “as I now view it, that our good Christian
people here are not willing to confide in that which
good Southern Christian people say about slavery.
We should trust their judgments, their moral sentiments,
their consciences, on any other subject. How
is it that when men and women, who are the excellent
of the earth, tell us the results of their observation,
experience, and reflections, with regard to slavery,
we treat them as we do? When ill-mannered people,
who must be vituperative and saucy to every body and
in every thing, behave thus, it is not surprising;
but I cannot explain why truly good men should not
either adopt the deliberate sentiments of good people
at the South, or at least consent to leave the subject,
if beyond their faith or discernment, to the responsibility
of Southern Christians. I condemn myself in saying
this. But having myself been converted, I have
hope for everybody.”

During this talk, Mr. North was affected somewhat
as he said his wife was when he first read the Southern
lady’s letter to her. He was a little incoherent
by reason of his emotions; but he made out to say
something about the sweetness and the strength of reconciled
affections, and of the happiness which there would
be when it should be proclaimed that the North and
the South are once more friends.

“What is your whole name, Mrs. North?”
said I; “for I shall wish to speak of you to
the Southern lady, if I write to her father.”

“My Christian name,” said she, “is
Patience.”

“PATIENCE NORTH!” I said to myself, once
or twice, as I stood at the parlor door. I was
musing upon the name perhaps ten or fifteen seconds,
and when I looked up, they were each both smiling at
me and crying.